Page 17 of Whispers of the Water

Gummy Worm was the code we’d agreed upon for this weeklong trip. It meant I was in imminent danger and needed help pronto. Dallas had no doubt been expecting me to call or text the signal all day, but she was mistaken. I was safe with my friends around. At least, I hoped so.

When I’d awoken as Water Fae, I’d sought out answers as to who and what I was from the only place I could: my best friend, Dallas, who also happened to be my personal guard—because I was the Water Fae Princess who’d been hidden away for my own protection. I was still trying to wrap my head around that one.

So naturally, when Dallas found out I was going on this weeklong trip with nothing but Land Fae around, she’d refused to let me go unless she came too. If all had gone according to plan, she’d have booked herself a room at an inn nearby and been keeping watch over me ever since we landed. I had a feeling she’d brought back up, too, which meant I’d have extra security watching me in public from the shadows. When I was in the house though, I was to have my phone on me at all times with Dallas on speed dial so that I could call in Gummy Worm if needed.

I leaned against the sink and let out a heavy sigh. “I wanted to hear your voice. It’s been a long day.”

“I heard. One of my guys said that some bitch harassed you at dinner.”

I gave her the rundown on Aidan and Talia. “It’s so frustrating that I feel like I’m having to compete with her.”

“But you’re not. Rune made it perfectly clear he’s not interested in her, even with their history. He chose you, fake or not.” She paused, then let out a groan. “I can’t believe I’m defending a Land Fae. And a Fox, no less. What has the world come to?”

“Dallas,” I warned.

“Yes, yes, yes.” I could practically see her waving her hands dismissively. “You want us to get along with them, I know. This would be easier if I’d gotten to know them more than just that one time.”

That time she referred to was the attempted robbery at the club those few months ago. It was what brought Rune and me together and allowed us to strike our deal—my help in exchange for his money for my art trip. This was also, of course, before I had realized Fae existed.

Rune and I had both changed so much in these few months, and it was crazy to think back on how we used to be. We’d gone from having instant chemistry to business partners who were constantly annoyed with the other to dear friends, and now … Now I didn’t know what the hell we were.

“Well,” Dallas started. “I guess since you love him, I’ve got to learn to love him, too. Tell me about Fox boy.”

A wide smile broke out across my mouth. She was putting their differences aside to give him a chance, because he was important to me. I loved her for it.

I tidied up the bathroom as I recounted the months with Rune and all the great moments. I gave her all the details about how I learned about Fae, my training sessions with Rune, and all the small things he did that meant the world to me. We laughed as Dallas reminded me how much she still hated his painting from our first date, which I’d hung proudly in our dorm room. She squealed over my dinner date on the deck of his boat—a date I never got to tell her about since that same night was the first night Jonah attacked me. It was also the night when Rune and I had first kissed. My favorite date of all though was only yesterday, the day before we’d left for the trip. He surprised me with a painting picnic, and I pretended that life was normal again after having just found out the truth about who I really was.

“Damn,” Dallas sighed. “I’m gonna have to tell Rance to step up his dates.”

I laughed before asking, “Do you have any updates on who hired Jonah?”

The true mastermind of my attempted assassination was still a mystery since Jonah was dead. Dallas and I had deduced that it must be someone in my close Water Fae circle since no one else knew who I was, but I’d yet to hear any news on her findings.

“None yet,” Dallas sighed. “I passed that assignment to Dax since I’m focused on you right now. He’s looking diligently into a couple of leads, but he doesn’t have anything concrete yet.”

Before I could answer, a knock came at the bedroom door. “Wait. Looks like I’ve gotta go. We’re about to watch movies.”

“No worries. We can talk later, and hopefully, I’ll have more news for you then. Have fun. Take a shot for me. And Bria. Be safe. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Dallas.”

We hung up, and I opened the bedroom door to find Avana and Akira in their pajamas. Avana wore a gold silk sleep romper, and her dozens of braids were pulled back in a ponytail. Akira had on a traditional navy-blue yukata and some slippers.

“Sorry,” I said as I shut the door behind me. “I was cleaning up the bathroom after my shower.” I followed them to Akira’s room, combing my fingers through my slightly damp hair.

Akira waved dismissively. “Mondai nai. The boys were downstairs making popcorn. Everyone just got in there.”

Bassel and Akira’s room was larger than mine. It had a formal sitting room that you entered into, and their bedroom connected to it. It was expansive with a couch and two love seats, as well as a separate seating area across the room in front of a fireplace. An entertainment center stood across from the couches, and the previews of the movie played on the flat screen.

Everyone sat about the couches in their human forms, including the twins, who wore matching dinosaur pajamas. I took my place at the end of one of the love seats. Newt crawled up next to me, and Greshim was by him, pulling Rune down on the other side. Rune and I shared a warm smile over the tops of the twins’ heads before everyone else found their places, and the movie began.

If anyone was bored with the film, the boys definitely kept them entertained. They got so excited every time the T-Rex came on screen, and they hollered like the velociraptors at all the right moments. It was safe to say they’d seen this movie one too many times. The night was fun, and it made me crave more—more moments when we forgot a world outside of this one existed. It was times like this when I knew what it meant to have a family.

When the end credits started rolling, Ardley broke out a deck of cards. Another movie was put on, and Akira, Avana, and I took this as our cue to grab the bottle of pink Moscato and move to the chairs by the fireplace on the other side of the room. They also had me run to my room for my sketchbook, because they were eager to see my artistic skills in the flesh. Everyone else suited up for a game of slapjack.

“Thank God Myra had wine downstairs,” Akira said as he plopped down in one of the plush chairs.

Avana knelt on the floor by the coffee table and uncorked the bottle. She filled three glasses and said, “Agreed. I think we all need it, especially you, Bria.”

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